Interview Opportunities

Why we recommend Denison admission interviews

The written component of your application only tells a part of your story. It’s an important part, and we appreciate hearing your voice, reading about your accomplishments, and learning about you from your biggest advocates.

An interview gives us insight into your personality and character. After all, Denison is made up of 2,400 unique personalities, and they all contribute to make the Denison experience special. When we meet you, it helps us understand how you might fit into that tapestry.

Our approach to admission interviews

You’ve already told us (or will eventually tell us) a lot in your application. So, our interviews are not a verbal recitation of your applications. Our interviews are instead designed to give us a sense of you that we don’t already have. Our questions focus on personal qualities rather than your resume.

While interviews are not required to be admitted, the majority of successful applicants complete an interview, and if you are serious about Denison we recommend sitting for an interview.

Interviews are structured

All applicants in a given application year will be asked the same set of questions. This helps us eliminate potential bias in the interview process and ensures a consistent evaluation across applicants from different backgrounds. And, our questions are created to help you shine.

Interviews are evaluative.

We use interviews as one of many factors in our selection process, and like the rest of those factors, no decision relies completely on one single component. Rather it helps us paint a more complete picture of you as a potential member of our community.

Details about your admission interview

When to interview

Students may sit for an interview starting in March of their junior year, and interviews must be completed by the end of February of a student’s senior year. We recommend sitting for an interview during your campus visit if it falls within the availability window.
Interviews offered in January and February are reserved for students who have submitted an application. Additionally, we may invite select applicants to interview during this time.
Applicants may only sit for an interview once.

How to interview

We offer in-person interviews on-campus and in various cities across the globe. Virtual interviews are conducted by invitation-only and are reserved for those who have submitted an application.

What to expect

Interviews are conducted by trained admission staff members and senior Denison students.
Interviews typically last 20-25 minutes. There will be an opportunity at the end to ask your interviewer questions about Denison.
Please arrive on time for interviews as we often have many interviews scheduled back to back.
There is no dress code, and no need to prepare in advance. You’ll be talking about yourself, a subject you’re an expert in already!

Schedule an on-campus admission interview:

https://connect.denison.edu/portal/visit

Where to interview

If it’s possible for you to interview in-person, we strongly recommend it.

We value personal connection. So, we strongly prefer to meet you either during your visit to campus or when we are in your area. Having a face-to-face conversation is much more similar to how your professors, roommates, classmates, advisors, and mentors will interact with you at Denison, and we feel it allows for a better conversation.

Of course, we also completely understand that this isn’t an option for everyone. Virtual interviews take place using Zoom, and the structure and content of the interview is identical either in-person or virtually.

Interviewing Tips

Enjoy the conversation!

It is just that—a conversation with someone genuinely interested in you and what you have to say. No need to stress about it. Your interviewer wants the conversation to go well, too! Just think of this as yet another way to tell us a bit about yourself and show off your personality.

Be yourself!

There is no “perfect applicant.” Every Denison student is unique, with various interests, strengths, and goals. Don’t try to fit yourself into an idea of what you think we are looking for—just be you!

Ask Questions!

Interviews are also a time for you to get to know Denison better, and by asking questions you are showing us you are interested in us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are interviews required?

While interviews are not required to be admitted, the majority of successful applicants complete an interview, and if you are serious about Denison we recommend sitting for an interview.

What should I do to prepare for my interview?

No major preparation necessary. You’ll be talking about yourself, a subject you’re an expert in already! Think of some questions you would like to hear the answers to, especially questions that can’t be answered by browsing our website.

For virtual interviews, we recommend testing the interview link, camera, and microphone (we want to see and hear you!), making sure you have a good stable wifi connection, and setting yourself up in a space where you won’t be interrupted for about 30 minutes.

When should I interview?

We begin interviewing prospective first-year students as early as March of your junior year through February of a student’s senior year. Prospective transfer students are also welcome to interview, and should interview before their application deadline - either November 15 or April 15. Don’t wait until the last minute to sign up – if you plan to apply to Denison, we recommend sitting for an interview early in the process.

What kind of questions will I be asked?

Our interview questions help us better understand your personal qualities. We won’t ask you to rehash your resume or activities - we’ll learn about how you spend your time through your application. In this setting, our goal is to find out a bit more about you as a person.

All applicants in a given application year will be asked the same set of questions. This helps us eliminate potential bias in the interview process and ensures a consistent evaluation across applicants from different backgrounds. And, our questions are created to help you shine.

What should I wear to my interview?

There is no formal dress requirement. We are far more interested in what you have to say than what you decide to wear.

Do you have interviews with alumni?

Our structured and evaluative interviews are only offered by members of the admission staff and Senior Admission Docents. However, alumni are great resources to help you understand the spirit of Denison, and we offer alumni chats as another way to tell us about yourself and ask questions about the Denison experience. Alumni will report back to us about your conversation, but an alumni chat is not a replacement for an interview in the application process.

To schedule an alumni chat, please reach out to Admission Alumni Volunteer Coordinator, Jasmine Wilson.

Will I be at a disadvantage if I do a virtual interview instead of an in-person interview?

You will not be at a disadvantage. But if it’s possible for you to interview in-person, we strongly recommend it. Denison is all about personal connection, and it is just easier to connect face-to-face.

However, we completely understand that this isn’t an option for everyone. Virtual interviews take place using Zoom, and the structure and content of the interview is identical either in-person or virtually.

How are interviews used in the admission process?

While optional, interviews are evaluative, so they are considered a part of your application to Denison. The admission officers who read your application will have the interview notes available to them as part of that review, and they will read those notes alongside the rest of your application.

Can I interview more than once?

Look, we would love to chat all day. Unfortunately, with far more applicants than we have space to admit, unless we learn how to self-multiply, that’s just not feasible, so everyone is limited to one interview.

Do I need to have my video on during a virtual interview?

We do ask that you turn your video on during virtual interviews. We would have loved to meet in person, and we want this experience to come as close to an in-person interview as possible.

Do I need to do a Denison Interview if I've already done an InitialView/Vericant Interview?

There’s no need to do a Denison interview if you’re planning to submit an InitialView or Vericant Interview. The one advantage of a Denison interview is that you’ll be able to ask us questions about our campus community.